Molecular Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of an Outbreak on Respiratory Virus Coinfection in Gansu, China.

This study aims to analyze the epidemiological and pathogenic characteristics of an outbreak primarily caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human rhinovirus (HRV), and human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in a kindergarten and primary school. The outbreak was investigated by field epidemiological investigation, and the common respiratory pathogens were screened by RT-PCR detection technology. The attack rate of this outbreak was 63.95% (110/172). Main symptoms included cough (85.45%), sore throat (60.91%), and sneezing (60.00%). Multifactorial logistic regression analysis revealed that continuous handwashing and mouth and nose covering when sneezing were protective factors. All 15 collected throat swab specimens tested positive for viruses, with HMPV as the predominant pathogen (80.00%), followed by HRV (53.33%), and two cases of positive respiratory syncytial virus (13.33%). Among them, six samples showed coinfections of HMPV and HRV, and one had coinfections of HMPV and RSV, resulting in a coinfection rate of 46.67%. Genetic sequencing indicated that the HMPV genotype in this outbreak was A2c, and the HRV genotype was type A, resulting in a coinfection outbreak of HMPV, HRV, and RSV in schools and kindergartens, suggesting that multi-pathogen surveillance of respiratory tract infections should be strengthened.

[Analysis on the changing trends of non-communicable diseases in Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, from 1998 to 2008].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the changing trends of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps from 1998 to 2008. METHODS: A stratified-cluster random sampling based cross-sectional NCDs survey was carried out in 2008, and using the data of NCDs from the health service surveys in 1998 and 2004, in Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. The prevalence rate of NCDs was standardization according to age proportion of the population being surveyed in 1998. RESULTS: In 1998, 2004 and 2008, the prevalence rates of NCDs in Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps were 17.26%, 25.61%, 24.85% while the Standardized rates of NCDs were 17.26%, 23.54% and 20.49% respectively. The prevalence rates of NCDs were statistically significant different in 35-, 45-, 55- and over 65 age groups in 1998, 2004 and 2008 which showed an consecutive upward trend. The prevalence rates of hypertension, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, coronary heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease increased significantly from 1998 to 2008. The prevalence rate of hypertensive disease among 25- age group, diabetes among 35- age group, cerebrovascular disease and coronary heart disease among 45- age groups showed an increasing trend. CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, together with diabetes were the fastest increasing ones over the past 10 years and becoming the major diseases, making the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps an aging population. NCDs should be prioritized in the health development plan. Targeted health education should be carried out in the whole population, together with other interventions as well as management programs on chronic diseases to reduce the prevalence of NCDs.

[A 1:2 matched case-control study on the interaction of HPV16E6 and HLA-DR9 allele to esophageal cancer in Kazakh ethnicity, Xinjiang].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role and the association between HPV16E6 infection and HLA-DR9 immune-associated gene to esophageal cancer (EC) in Kazakh of Xinjiang, China. METHODS: A 1:2 matched case-control study was conducted with 63 cases of EC and 126 controls involved. The controls were matched by sex, nationality, area of residence and age within 5-year difference. HPV16E6 and HLA-DR9 allele were identified by PCR-SSP. Interaction was performed to identify risk factors. RESULTS: HPV16E6 infection and HLA-DR9 allele positive status were the risk factors for EC, with OR values as 2.67 (95%CI: 1.38 - 5.17) and 3.83 (95%CI: 1.48 - 9.96) respectively. The rate of HPV16E6 infection in individuals with HLA-DR9 allele was different from the ones who were HLA-DR9 allele free (chi(2) = 7.57, P = 0.006), with OR value as 5.79 (95%CI: 1.53 - 21.87). In the controls, the rates of HPV16E6 infection were 22.2% and 16.2% among individuals with HLA-DR9 allele atatus as positive or negative, and without statistically significant difference. Interaction analysis showed there was an interaction of HPV16E6 with HLA-DR9 and were higher than the sum of the two factors presented individually. CONCLUSION: In our study, we found that the HLA-DR9 allele and HPV16E6 infection had a function of synergy in the process of malignant transformation of esophageal epithelial cells, and jointly promoting the occurrence and development of EC.